The fact that a rubber bracelet with a hologram doesn't improve physical attributes probably doesn't come as much of a surprise to anyone.

Except, that is, to the many athletes that swear by them. Superstars Derrick Rose and Drew Brees have been counted among their endorsers

There's a whole host of companies manufacturing jewelry with similar claims that capitalize on those athlete testimonials.

The trinkets gained popularity in athletic circles because representatives from companies like PowerBalance and Phiten handed them out at professional training facilities across America. That prompted ESPN The Magazine to test them against a placebo and reach the same conclusion the company now admits to be true: the holographic effect is a hoax.